Raising money for a long-planned, multimillion-dollar Highway 156 widening project by charging drivers to use the roadway will be formally studied.

But Supervisor Lou Calcagno, whose district includes the congested roadway, warned that fundraising is only a small part of the issue and public outreach will be crucial to the success of any such effort.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in the spring suggests visitors might be willing to pay a one-way toll of up to $5, while local residents are opposed to paying any charge.

Last week, the Transportation Agency for Monterey County board of directors agreed to issue a request for proposals to explore the possibility of setting up the county's first toll road in an effort to help pay for the proposed $104 million highway expansion. The proposal calls for construction of a brand-new four-lane highway just south of the current roadway, which would then be used as a frontage road for nearby residents.

The key connector between Highways 1 and 101 has been the subject of much debate over the past decade, and that has intensified in recent years. The highway is often backed up during peak travel times, especially with major events under way on the Peninsula.

With just $40 million committed to the project, TAMC executive director Debbie Hale said it makes sense to take a closer look at tolling, noting there are fewer and fewer funding options available as federal and state funding remains scarce, and in the wake of failed local transportation tax measures.

"We're just looking at tolling because all the other funding options have run out," Hale said. "So we'll see if tolling pans out and go from there."

According to TAMC official Sharon Gavin, there are indications that the project could be finished 15 to 20 years earlier with the addition of a dedicated funding source such as tolling.

Gavin said agency staff is currently working with Caltrans on a final version of the request for proposals (RFP) for the estimated $70,000 tolling traffic and revenue study, and economic analysis. Gavin said the RFP will likely be released in late July and staff would return to the TAMC board with a recommended consultant in September.

In the meantime, she said, TAMC staff is now in the midst of a public outreach effort that includes making a series of presentations to local city councils and community organizations, gauging interest and collecting input.

"We're really early in the process and we want to make sure we're asking the right questions," she said.

Once the six-week study is done this fall, Gavin said a new public outreach process would begin to share the results and get feedback. A staff recommendation would be expected by December or January, she said.

Calcagno said he supports studying the toll road concept but also suggested that a variety of issues could prove challenging.

"At this point it's only exploring," Calcagno said. "Tolling is not my first choice. There's a lot of problems with tolling. We need lots of public outreach and buy-in. It might affect businesses. We have to be very cautious."

Calcagno noted that the relatively new interchange at Highway 156 and Highway 101 would also likely need to be expanded because the two-lane overpass, and on- and off-ramps would create a bottleneck.

He said he's concerned that drivers would try to avoid paying the highway toll by using rural roads in the area, and that even a nominal daily charge would take a toll on area businesses and their employees who use the highway to commute.

The tolling study is expected to address some of those issues.

Supervisor Jane Parker said she wants to see TAMC staff put together a matrix of various funding alternatives for the project as opposed to focusing exclusively on the tolling option.

Also last week, the TAMC board reviewed results from the aquarium survey, which polled nearly 2,000 visitors.

Among the survey findings:

· Aquarium visitors considered tolling a "good option," that would have "little or no impact" on tourism.

· Visitors would be willing to pay a toll of up to $5, but no more.

· One-way tolling is acceptable but not both ways.

· Residents and business owners with legal Monterey County addresses should get a free window sticker.

· About two-thirds of local residents called a toll "unfair" to them, but might be OK with limited monthly or annual fee.

· Nearly three-quarters of local residents indicated they believed "tourists using (Highway) 156 should pay" for any improvements.

· Eight out of 10 residents would support an increase in transient occupancy taxes over a toll, but fewer than two of 10 would support a sales tax increase over a toll.